11/02/2025
What is neuropathy?
Neuropathy is when nerve damage leads to pain, weakness, numbness or tingling in one or more parts of your body.
The nerve damage may be because of disease, infection, injury, medicines, long-term alcohol abuse or another reason. Sometimes no cause is found.
What are the different types of neuropathies?
There are many different types of neuropathies. Neuropathies are usually named according to the body part affected, the cause of nerve damage or the number of nerves affected.
Autonomic neuropathy occurs when there is damage to the nerves that control your body’s automatic functions, such as digestion, blood pressure and bladder function.
Diabetic neuropathy is caused by diabetes. It most commonly affects the nerves of your hands and feet. It can also affect the nerves controlling automatic functions of the body (autonomic neuropathy). It sometimes affects the nerves in the hips and thighs.
Peripheral neuropathy affects the nerves in the outer (peripheral) parts of the body such as your feet, legs, hands and arms.
Focal or mononeuropathy affects only one nerve. Examples include carpal tunnel syndrome and Bell’s palsy.
Polyneuropathy affects several nerves. Most people with neuropathy have polyneuropathy.
What are the symptoms of neuropathy?
The symptoms depend on the nerves involved.
Neuropathy can cause abnormal sensations in your affected body area, such as:
• pain, which is often worse at night
• numbness
• tingling, or ‘pins and needles’
• a burning sensation
• electric shock-like sensations
Neuropathy can also cause:
• muscle weakness
• a loss of movement or function
• problems with balance
• Autonomic neuropathy can cause problems with:
• digestion (for example, feeling full faster when eating)
• bowel function (including diarrhoea or constipation)
• bladder function
• sexual response (for example, erectile dysfunction)
• sweating
• feeling light-headed.
What causes neuropathy?
There are many known causes of neuropathy, including:
• diabetes
• Guillain-Barre syndrome
• certain infections, including HIV infection and AIDS
• long-term alcohol abuse
• chemotherapy and radiotherapy
• vitamin deficiencies
• some medicines
• tumours
• pressure on a nerve
• thyroid problems
• Sometimes, a cause can’t be found.